Coronavirus: Spelling bee cancelled for first time since 1945

The spelling bee tournament has been cancelled for the first time since 1945 in wake of the coronavirus outbreak around the world.

This is the first time since World War 2, that the National spelling bee tournament has been cancelled for 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak around the world. The prestigious spelling bee tournament has been dominated by the Indian-Americans over the years.

The competition can participate only by elementary and middle school students. But due to the current health crisis in the world, it has now been cancelled and will now be held on June 1, 2021. 

The eight graders who had qualified this year for the competition, for the last time, at the national title, won't be eligible to participate for the same next year, the spelling bee officials said in a statement.

While commenting on the same, Paige Kimble, Executive Director, Spelling Bee said this is indeed sad that the spellers won't get their final shot at winning because of the pandemic. They are now part of a widely expanding group of children and adults who are missing out on opportunities due to the coronavirus.

The organisers have cancelled the event citing that there is no clear path to safely set a new date in 2020.

"This has been done keeping in view the spread of the novel coronavirus and uncertainty around when public gatherings will be allowed," the organisers said in a statement.

The decision follows the Bee's announcement on March 20 that it was suspending the national finals with hopes to reschedule.

The only other time when the spelling bee, an annual event since 1925, was cancelled was during World War II, from 1943-45.